Community Development Experience VISTA

DC² (DC Squared) is a nonprofit community development organization dedicated to supporting, promoting, and growing small businesses in neighborhood corridors while preserving and promoting community history through art, culture, and architecture.

We create community development experiences that activate spaces, strengthen local economies, and connect residents, entrepreneurs, artists, businesses, and community partners through entrepreneurship, placemaking, food access, arts and culture, and strategic partnerships.

Our work includes public markets, commercial corridor revitalization, entrepreneurship initiatives, creative placemaking, commercial space activation, third-space development, and pilot projects that demonstrate innovative approaches to community and economic development.

The Community Development Experience VISTA helps transform community development ideas into engaging, well-executed projects and experiences.

Working alongside DC² staff and community partners, the VISTA supports the implementation of place-based initiatives by coordinating projects, strengthening partnerships, developing operational resources, engaging stakeholders, and helping deliver community-facing experiences that activate public spaces and create opportunities for entrepreneurship and neighborhood investment.

This position is ideal for someone who enjoys balancing planning with hands-on implementation and wants to gain experience in community development, placemaking, project management, entrepreneurship, and nonprofit leadership.

• Support implementation of DC² Markets and other community development initiatives.
• Coordinate project activities and assist with community-facing events and activations.
• Assist with commercial space activation, third-space development, and pilot projects that activate vacant and underutilized land.
• Conduct neighborhood assessments, stakeholder interviews, and commercial corridor inventories.

• Build relationships with community organizations, businesses, artists, entrepreneurs, and institutional partners.
• Coordinate outreach efforts and collaborative programming.
• Support sponsorship, partnership, and resource development initiatives.
• Develop communications materials, presentations, newsletters, and digital outreach campaigns.

• Develop resource guides, toolkits, and operational materials that strengthen project delivery.
• Create systems that support entrepreneurs, vendors, volunteers, and community participation.
• Develop data collection tools, participant tracking systems, and impact reports that improve organizational learning and future programming.

• DC² Markets
• Commercial Corridor Activation
• Entrepreneurship & Business Development
• Third-Space Development
• Creative Placemaking
• Arts & Cultural Programming
• Food Access Initiatives
• Community Engagement Campaigns
• Pilot Projects for Vacant & Underutilized Land Activation

• Community Development
• Project Coordination
• Entrepreneurship Ecosystems
• Placemaking
• Commercial Corridor Revitalization
• Community Engagement
• Partnership Development
• Nonprofit Operations
• Program Evaluation
• Communications & Outreach
• Resource Development
• Public Activation Strategies

We're looking for someone who:

• Enjoys both planning and hands-on project implementation.
• Is passionate about community and economic development.
• Builds strong relationships with diverse stakeholders.
• Is organized, adaptable, and comfortable managing multiple projects.
• Has strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Is excited to contribute to innovative, place-based community development initiatives.

Please apply at: https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?fromSearch=true&id=130007